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KABUL (Pajhwok): Minister of Commerce and Industry Nooruddin Azizi and Kazakhstan’s Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin have underlined the importance of expediting transit processes and simplifying customs procedures to boost regional trade and increase exchanges between Kabul, Astana and other Central Asian countries. Azizi, accompanied by Serik Zhumangarin during his official visit to Kazakhstan, visited several key industrial, agricultural and border areas, including Maktaaral, Shardara and Kozhe-Togai, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) said in a statement. During these visits, the minister met with local officials and private sector representatives to discuss the expansion of trade cooperation and the exchange of technical expertise. The ministry said the Maktaaral region was considered one of Kazakhstan’s major hubs and a successful example of mechanised agriculture and agro-based industries. Azizi emphasised that Afghanistan could benefit from Kazakhstan’s experience in modern agriculture, processing and packaging of agricultural products to develop similar capacities within the country. The statement added that Azizi and Zhumangarin also visited border areas between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, where both officials inspected border crossings and infrastructure projects related to the Central Asian International Industrial Cooperation Centre. According to the ministry, discussions also focused on border and customs facilitation, particularly the installation and use of modern scanner systems to speed up the inspection of vehicles and cargo. Both sides reiterated the importance of accelerating transit processes and simplifying customs procedures to strengthen regional trade and increase exchanges between Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries.
